XN000022-1989-01-13 — Page 2

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 1989

GOVT PROPOSES CHANGES TO ADMISSION CRITERIA FOR LAWYERS

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THE GOVERNMENT IS PROPOSING TO AMEND THE LAW TO RATIONALISE THE CRITERIA UNDER WHICH LAWYERS QUALIFIED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND CERTAIN OTHER COMMONWEALTH JURISDICTIONS ARE ELIGIBLE TO BE ADMITTED TO PRACTISE AS SOLICITORS OR BARRISTERS IN HONG KONG.

THREE CHANGES TO THE EXISTING ADMISSION CRITERIA ARE PROPOSED,

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ANNOUNCED TODAY (FRIDAY).

THE FIRST AFFECTS LAWYERS QUALIFIED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND SEEKS TO RESTRICT THE RIGHT OF ADMISSION OF UK SOLICITORS AND B.J.RISTERS.

THE SECOND CONCERNS LAWYERS QUALIFIED IN CERTAIN COMMONWEALTH JURISDICTIONS WHO ARE CURRENTLY WORKING IN THE JUDICIARY OR THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT LEGAL SERVICE.

THE THIRD PROPOSAL RELATES TO LIMITED RIGHTS OF PRACTICE FOR LAW LECTURERS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF POST GRADUATE LEGAL EDUCATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG WHO ARE SOLICITORS QUALIFIED IN CERTAIN COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES.

THEY ARE BASED ON THE REPORT OF A COMMITTEE WHICH WAS SRT UP IN AUGUST 1986 UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE THEN CHIEF JUSTICE. THE COMMITTEE'S TASK WAS TO SUGGEST HOW ΤΟ IMPLEMENT A RECOMMENDATION MADE BY THE THEN UMELCO STANDING PANEL ON SECURITY, FOLLOWING CONSIDERATION OF A PETITION FROM CERTAIN AUSTRALASIAN LAWYERS IN THE GOVERNMENT, THAT BARRISTERS QUALIFIED IN CERTAIN COMMONWEALTH JURISDICTIONS SHOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR ADMISSION TO PRACTISE IN HONG KONG WITHOUT EXAMINATION AFTER A PERIOD OF SERVICE AS A GOVERNMENT LAWYER. THE COMMITTEE WAS ALSO INVITED TO SUGGEST OTHER AMENDMENTS TO THE LAW AFFECTING ADMISSIONS OF LAWYERS WHICH IT CONSIDERED APPROPRIATE.

IN ITS REPORT SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNOR IN JANUARY LAST YEAR THE CJ'S COMMITTEE, COMPOSED OF MEMBERS FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS, THE BAR ASSOCIATION, THE LAW SOCIETY AND MR PETER POON WING-CHEUNG, MADE A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS ON A WIDE RANGE OF SUBJECTS.

THE AMENDMENTS CONCERN THE THREE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE CJ'S REPORT INVOLVING CHANGES TO THE EXISTING ADMISSION CRITERIA FOR LAWYERS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE CHANGES TO THE LAW WILL BE GAZETTED ON JANUARY 20 AND INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON FEBRUARY 15.

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